CAPITALISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE

October 11, 2018

One situation wherein capitalism affected nature and the environment is through climate change. Simply put, climate change is a substantial change in the climate of our entire planet. This change affects the weather patterns and the ecosystem in different parts of the world. Global warming, or the rise in earth’s temperature, is just one expression of climate change. Other manifestations of this environmental crisis are the rise in sea levels and melting glaciers and sea ice. Climate change causes extreme weather conditions such that summer days are hotter and winter gets colder. There are also stronger hurricanes or equally destructive, longer periods of drought. Although there are natural causes of climate change such as a change in the distance of the earth and sun, humans are also accountable for these changes. People’s daily activities such as cooking food, driving cars, watching television, and cooling their houses use energy. Coal, oil, or gas is burned for energy to be produced and it releases harmful gases into the air which affects the environment and climate. NASA says that it takes a hundred or million years for the climate to change. But we have finally come to a time when nature is finally charging man for abusing the natural resources. Amidst these changes, people need to adapt to be able to survive. The farmer needs to think of ways to irrigate his fields during hot summer days and protect his crops during heavy rains and storms. Those living along coastal areas need to leave their homes because the water level is rising and taking their land. Those who are mining for a living need to think about responsible and sustainable mining practices to protect their environment. This highlights how uneven development relates to climate change. The wealth of developed countries gives them the power and technology to overcome challenges in their own localities while at the same time, being able to control the production, distribution, and other businesses and industries in different parts of the world who are already feeling the adverse effects of climate change. Thus, the poor nations become poorer and rich nations become richer.